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Finally, Franklin Edishou and his wife, Souria Boko, could breathe a sigh of relief when Canadian Armed Forces flight, CFC3129, full of exhausted Syrian refugees, landed at Pearson International Airport close to midnight on Thursday.

It was a moment thousands of Canadians had been waiting a long time for, especially the Toronto couple whose relatives — Boko’s three brothers — were on board, making the journey from Beirut, where they had struggled to survive and see this day when they knew they would be safe.

“They have been through a lot. We are just happy that they are now out of danger and can start a new life here,” said Edishou, an Iranian native, whose wife came from the Syrian village in Al-Hasakah, which fell to the ISIS terrorist group earlier this year.

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Boko’s brothers — Odicho, Kanan and Machiel — were among the first planeload of Syrian refugees to arrive under Ottawa’s mass evacuation plan pledged by the new Liberal government. Her ailing father Boko Boko and sister Hanna are expected to join them later, aboard a charter flight.

Maryam and Nora Kasmeih wait for Syrian refugees at the airport late Thursday at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Near midnight, the first plane of refugees landed, among them three brothers being nervously awaited by a Toronto couple. (Steve Russell / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

A second group of refugees is slated to arrive by military aircraft in Montreal on Saturday, bringing in a total of 300 privately sponsored Syrian refugees between the two flights.

Their arrival came more than three months after the image of the lifeless body of 3-year-old Alan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach shook the conscience of the world, turning the Syrian refugee crisis into a wedge issue in the federal election and mobilizing Canadians to take action, form sponsorship groups and raise money to resettle Syrians stranded abroad.

On Thursday, many community and sponsorship groups said they were thrilled at the impending arrival of the country’s newest residents. The refugees were to undergo an estimated three hours of processing upon their arrival, including further identity, document and medical checks.

“I am heartened to see Canadians come together to welcome the Syrian refugees. I have hopes of the greatest success for them and their families as they build their new home in Canada,” said Immigration Minister John McCallum in a statement.

Edishou said his family was pleasantly surprised when he received a call on Wednesday morning from the Office of Refugees, Archdiocese of Toronto informing him that his three brothers-in-law would be arriving on the first military flight Thursday.

Edishou, a cook, said his wife’s family fled to Lebanon in March after they were attacked by ISIS thugs. The couple immediately submitted a private sponsorship for her father and siblings through the Catholic Archdiocese and the St. Joseph’s Syriac Catholic Church in Mississauga.

“Life was very difficult for them in Lebanon. They felt like they were hanging in the air and didn’t know what was going to happen to them next,” said Edishou, father of two girls and three boys.

The family registered with the United Nations Refugee Agency in Beirut and was called for identity, security and medical screenings two weeks ago.

“We live in a house and we do have the space for everyone. When we got the call they were arriving, my wife just gave me a kiss,” said Edishou. “We are happy Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau made his promise. We are happy the wait is over.”

Jordanian Canadian Harry Ziad Malawi, president of the Canadian Arab Network, said Canada’s quick action is a win-win for Syrian refugees and the Middle Eastern countries overwhelmed by their presence, including his native Jordan, which is sheltering 2 million Syrian refugees right now.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Malawi, an editor-in-chief of a community paper, whose community group has held clothing and food drives in preparation for the Syrians’ arrival.

“This helps ease the refugee crisis and the pressure on the health care, education and infrastructure there. We want to welcome the Syrians and help them feel as part of the Canadian fabrics as soon as possible.”

Pearson airport posted to Facebook requesting members of the general public stay home in light of safety and security concerns.

“We’re so proud that our community wants to help, but such a response would be very overwhelming for those arriving,” the statement read. “Safety is our number one priority for all who come through our airport.”

“Inviting them to community events would be great but even something as small as welcoming them the way you might any new neighbour, with a hello and a smile.”

Kotyk added the response has been amazing to see, especially in light of the anti-refugee rhetoric used by some politicians during the U.S. presidential campaign.

“Canadians are really wanting to make it evident that we are here to welcome Syrian refugees and we want to welcome them into our community and to show that as a group,” she said.

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